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00:00Good afternoon. Welcome along to the pre-match press conference ahead of Milan Lazio. We'll
00:08start with Milan TV. Thanks, Nicola. Good afternoon, coach. Football history is full
00:17of lots of success, a boost of adrenaline, great events like Derby's win last Sunday
00:24and then there's a risk in the following game of maybe people switching off a little
00:30bit. Have you stayed switched on this week with the team on this matter? The Milan derby
00:40is obviously an important game. It does give you a lot of adrenaline, but we mustn't lose
00:46sight of what our final goal is, namely to finish in the top four, because this season
00:51is a league table whereby there are seven points separated by seven points and Lazio
00:58are coming back into it. At this moment in time, I think Sari is doing a very good job
01:06with Lazio. They've got 18 points. They've been a little bit underrated so far. They
01:11had some issues in the transfer market because they didn't sign any players, but they've also
01:15had some injuries as well. So for us on Saturday, it will be a difficult game because they're
01:22an organized side. It looks like they afford you a lot of space, but they don't afford you
01:30many opportunities and they have the opportunity to break back into the Champions League qualification.
01:35It's true that our derby win was terrific, but end of story because it's now Thursday and in
01:45the space of 48 hours, we're involved in another league match, which is worth three points and
01:50we need those in order to take another step forward. Gradually, we can get that much closer
01:58to what our season's goal is. And in order to do so, we need to produce a good performance.
02:05Sky, two questions. Could you give us the latest from the treatment room, particularly with regards
02:11to Santi Jimenez in a bubble with Alexi Salamakas? We've seen the discrepancy between the statistics
02:20when you're up against big and small sides. Where do you put Lazio? You said they're coming back
02:25to it should you approach the Lazio game as if they're a big side. Besides the fact that
02:31we should approach every game with the idea in mind that all of your opponents are top
02:38teams, we have struggled against smaller teams, but Lazio are a side that over the last 10 to
02:4312 years have won a number of trophies. They've been in the Champions League for many years and
02:49they have some good players that are very well coached. As for the latest in the treatment room,
02:54Christian Pulisic is unlikely to be involved in the game. It's difficult because I'm conducting
03:02this press conference today. I'm not used to it. There's still two days to go. Something
03:06might change tomorrow and then that means that what I'm saying today is irrelevant. But it's
03:10unlikely Pulisic will be involved. Salamakas is fit. Santi Jimenez should start to gradually come back into full
03:21first team training next week and everyone else is fitted a bit. Rai. Hi Max.
03:27Is this a month that you need to keep a close eye on because you've got lots of matches and
03:39people often say that Milan are only involved in Serie A, but you actually have the Coppa Italia
03:43as well and before Christmas you also have the Super Cup. Is it an unusual month? A unique month? No,
03:49it's a nice month to be involved in because besides Serie A we also have Coppa Italia next Thursday and
03:55it's against Lazio once again albeit in Rome. That'll be a difficult game but that is a target
04:01that we have in mind and we need to try and go as deep as we can in the competition because making the
04:07Coppa Italia final in Rome is always a nice event and it's always nice to go to Rome in May. As for the Super Cup, we need to go to Saudi Arabia. We also need to do a
04:17good job there to try and go all the way and that won't be easy. So we'll take things one step at a time because that's the most important thing. Two days from now we have Lazio in Serie A and that will certainly be a different game to the one that we face in the Coppa Italia. Mediaset. Hi Max. I'd like to focus on Rafa Liao in the sense that he still divides opinion.
04:45Your attempt to try and convert him into more of a centre forward. He has said himself I owe a lot to Allegri in terms of changing my mentality and I realise I need to be closer to the opposition goal. He did a lot more dirty work in the Derby as opposed to getting into shooting positions. How far along is he in terms of that conversion and would you be happy with 15 goals from him? For the moment he's got four if I'm not mistaken. It's not me converting Liao into a striker.
05:14He's got a skill set and attributes that means that he can quite easily play centre forward because he's good at protecting the ball. He's good in the air in the opposition box. He needs to get used to attacking the goal a little bit more when the ball goes out wide and move out of the box less.
05:33And above all, he's changing because he's a lot more part of the game and therefore he's a lot more willing to work hard for the team when the dirty work needs to be done.
05:48Top players mark themselves out from the rest in areas such as these when they're able to harness their ability for the good of the team.
05:57Hi, coach. You said that Christian Pulisic is unlikely to be involved in the game. It's only natural. Then I'll ask you who might step in for him.
06:07And amongst these players, the fans probably expect a bit more from Christopher Nkunku given what he's done in the past with Leipzig and even in Chelsea as well.
06:17Have you expected a bit more from him? And do you think you can get him back to the level he was two or three years ago?
06:25I think that players that come in and he came in in the final few days of August.
06:31Plus he joined up with the national team on two separate occasions.
06:34And so that's already progress because he hadn't been involved for France before that.
06:42I don't expect more from him.
06:44What I do simply expect is in future that he's able to show all of his potential because he's a very technically gifted player.
06:53He's coming in from a different league.
06:56He needed to train because he hadn't trained a great deal.
06:58So I'm very confident.
07:00And he, just like everyone else, lest we forget, Ardon Yashari is coming back to full fitness with the first team.
07:07So that's another player that we have.
07:11David Adogu has gone to play with the under-23 side.
07:15So we're giving them some minutes under their belt.
07:18He needs that as well.
07:20The most important thing is to have everyone available for selection because therefore you have more competition for places on the training ground.
07:28I want to ask you about Mike Mignon.
07:34He really is securing even more points for you this season.
07:39We saw that in the derby and he's got a rather unusual contract situation.
07:44How much do you speak to the player?
07:46And how important do you believe it is to have that continuity with him and maybe already start thinking about next season?
07:55With regards to Mike, it's not simply this season.
08:01Mike has always been one of the best three goalkeepers around.
08:08So I'm not surprised by his performance levels.
08:10As for his contract, given that you're interested in that, the club are thinking about that, the club are working on that to try and lay the ground for the future and provide some stability for the team going forward in the coming years.
08:28I speak to Mike, but I speak to Mike about footballing matters.
08:32Philippi speaks even more to him about that because he's the goalkeeping coach.
08:39But I am happy because he looks very relaxed to me and he's confirming his ability.
08:45Franco Ordine e poi Masini, Tutto Sport.
08:48Franco Ordine e Tutto Sport.
08:49Hi.
08:52Today in an interview Adrian Rabiot said that when he was injured you asked him three times a day when he's back, when he's back, when he's back, when he's fit again.
09:00I wanted to ask you how many times a day you're asking Pulisic when he's back.
09:05It's difficult to interpret Pulisic because he's a little bit like a crossword because you ask him one thing and he's like, he's a lovely kid.
09:16I was asking Rabiot not because I wanted him to get back, but I was concerned that he wanted to come back ahead of time.
09:23And given that the calf is a very risky muscle, things went well.
09:28They panned out well.
09:29Earlier on you spoke about Yashari, so I wanted to come back to him, regardless of whether he's ready to return after that serious injury.
09:40But before he got injured, you said he was a defensive midfielder, either in front of the defence or he could play as a number eight.
09:48So when Yashari is back, where could we see him, given that Milan now have a fairly settled formation?
09:53In terms of his skill set, I think he's a player that can play in front of defence or as one of the two in midfield, depending on what the third midfielder is doing.
10:08But he's a player with a great character.
10:09He's got a lot of desire and Milan have signed an excellent player.
10:14Then he got injured and now we've got him available for selection.
10:17Of course, he is lacking playing time because, lest we forget, he was already injured before he came to Milan because he hadn't trained a great deal.
10:27So besides 45 minutes against Leeds and 45 minutes against Virtu Centella, Yashari has never played.
10:37So it's been three and a half months in which he hasn't played a match.
10:40So it's not a case of hard work.
10:46It's also in terms of match fitness coordination on the ball, movements, all of that.
10:51Sport Italia.
10:53Good afternoon, coach.
10:55With regards to the midfielder, Modric, Fofanand, Rabiot, that's the three that you pretty much picked when they've been healthy and available.
11:03But tomorrow, are you thinking about having an extra ball playing midfielder, Yashari or Ricci instead of Fofanand, or is this the structure that you want to keep all season long?
11:14No, those guys have played more for the moment, but Samuele Ricci has also played.
11:19He's played a great deal because Rabiot was missing.
11:22And Samuele is an important player.
11:24Ricci is someone who, having him in the team, is important because when you call upon him, whether he starts or whether he comes on for 45 or 30 minutes, he's physically ready, but above all, mentally ready.
11:41He is an asset for the squad and everyone needs to be like that.
11:45There are some players who have played less up until now, like Ruben Loftus-Chiq and Nkunku as well.
11:51Pervis Estupinian is coming back in.
11:56But the most important thing is that everyone has the goal clear in their mind.
12:00And as I said earlier on, talking about Rafael, everyone else needs to make sure that they work for the good of the team because together they can get to the goal and reward to Milan with Champions League football next season.
12:15In the knowledge that it's in no way easy because this year, more than ever, after 12 match days, I'd never seen seven teams separated by seven points.
12:27And I'd like to see how many times after 12 match days there had been so many teams so bunched up.
12:36So with one game, you can leap up the table.
12:38With one game, you can fall down the table.
12:39You only need to look at us.
12:41Fortunately, the derby went well for us.
12:43But had it gone the other way, then we would have been five points off the pace, which wouldn't have been a lot, but of course, would have seen things differently.
12:52That's why I say it's important to always make sure that we have an even keel, both when things go well and go badly.
12:58Because when you have your eye on the prize, it's that much easier.
13:01Tele-Lombardia.
13:09Salemakers says that it's got the same vibes as the Scudetto winning season.
13:15You weren't there, but you've won so many domestic titles.
13:19What have you made of this team, of this dressing room, these players?
13:24No, how many Scudetti the players have won for me and how many they've rewarded with me.
13:32You know, I haven't won Scudetti.
13:36Let's say that I'm a little bit fortunate a number of players have allowed me to win Scudetti.
13:41But I'm pleased that Salemakers is saying that and he has improved his performance levels.
13:46I think Alex produced his best performance of the season on Sunday because he produced a big showing technically and technically.
14:02In other games, like against Napoli, after he scored the goal, he caused a few issues.
14:08And he needs to strike the right balance in that area.
14:11And he is finding that because he's got huge room for improvement and he's very hard working.
14:16Calciomercato.com
14:18Calciomercato.com
14:20Hi, Coach.
14:28During the week, I read a statistic that I'd like to get your thoughts on.
14:32I don't know how to interpret it because a statistic came out that Milan make the fewest substitutions, 3.5 per game.
14:42And compared with the top five leagues, the third fewest, Everton and Crystal Palace make fewer changes than you.
14:51Does that mean that you trust the starting XI?
14:54You don't like to tweak things too much because it's positive?
14:57Or is it because you've got a short squad to pick from?
15:00No, I don't have a small squad to pick from, absolutely not.
15:04But over the last month, we were missing Rabiot, Pulisic and Estupinian.
15:08They are three important players.
15:13And, of course, they're players that come on the bench that can give you more options to pick from.
15:19Occasionally, you need substitutions or you don't need them or you only make them just for the sake of it because you've got them there.
15:26And that's not good.
15:29Substitutions should be made when you need them.
15:31It's not a case of 3, 4 or 5.
15:33It's only natural that, of course, substitutions can give you a helping hand.
15:36But occasionally, there are matches where you don't need them and you might tweak things 10 minutes before the end.
15:43Pianeta Milan.
15:44Hi, coach.
15:46Just to come back to the derby.
15:49It's clear that the team defend very well.
15:53You're very strong mentally against big sides.
15:55But there's the feeling that when you're building out from the back, you're not necessarily very neat and tidy.
16:01Maybe there's a space to actually hurt Inter a bit more.
16:05But occasionally, you laid it off badly.
16:07It was the wrong decision.
16:08You misplaced the pass.
16:10Can you coach that?
16:11How do you coach that?
16:12If Milan were able to sort that out, could you become an even more lethal side?
16:16We're working day in, day out to try and improve every tactical and technical situation that come up in matches.
16:25We had some chances in the first half against Inter where we could have done better with regards to our final ball in terms of how quickly we shifted the ball.
16:35And the same goes for the second half as well.
16:37But that happened in other matches as well.
16:39So we need to keep working on that.
16:41We are working on it to try and improve.
16:43But it's also an emotional matter sometimes.
16:48Giovanni Delia.
16:50Hi, coach.
16:51I'd like to ask you a very similar question to what my colleague asked with regards to the substitutions.
16:57In the first 12 matches, only three or four times have you made all five substitutions.
17:02That was Udinese, Napoli and Bologna, where you made four plus the injury to Mignon.
17:09Do you think you might need to tweak the squad in January in order to secure the targets that Mignon have in their mind this season?
17:17Or has it been down to the statistic, a bit of bad luck given the number of injuries that Mignon have had, especially in the last month?
17:25In the last month, the players have come back from international duty and I had five players that were almost dead on their feet, so I couldn't pick them.
17:33We lost them for a month.
17:34So the squad is right, the number of players is right.
17:39As I said, the club is working to plan the future with regards to what Mignon will look like in the coming years.
17:48The January transfer window is always a rather unusual one.
17:52And so signing players that we don't necessarily need, we already have a good group of players, including players that are getting better.
18:02So maybe in the second half of the season, they can give us even more.
18:06Lorenzo de Angelis.
18:08Hi, coach.
18:09I'd like to come back to Loftus-Cheek and ask you, could he be the perfect strike partner for Rafael Yao?
18:16Or in terms of his physical and technical qualities, do you still prefer to pick and conquer alongside the Portuguese striker?
18:24Ruben can play as a second striker.
18:26He can play out wide.
18:28He can play in midfield.
18:34Loftus-Cheek has a huge potential.
18:37He's also a consummate professional when it comes to work, so I'm very pleased with him.
18:42He's a reliable player, and that's very important for me.
18:45Luca Torres.
18:48Hi, coach.
18:50For the last few weeks now, you said that Milan have their league position because they've deserved it.
18:55And after the derby, people are talking about Milan being lucky, Inter hitting the post, Mignon making saves, and so on and so forth.
19:03So even in individual matches, can we say that Milan deserve this or they deserve the rub of the green?
19:08Or is that a shortcoming, given that we're talking about Mignon saying had the goalkeepers been swapped?
19:19You can't swap the goalkeepers because one's registered for Inter, one's registered for Milan.
19:24And that said, Mignon's first save was an easy save.
19:33You know, then people big it up.
19:36But Inter produced a big performance.
19:39We have a lot of respect for Inter because they're the best team in the league, along with Napoli.
19:43We mustn't forget that.
19:45We had some favourable situations.
19:52They also had some favourable situations, and that always happens in a big match.
19:59And the fact that we are working to improve certain areas of our game, I think that's only natural.
20:05And we do so on a daily basis.
20:07However, when we're on the pitch, we need to understand, and the players are starting to grasp that,
20:12and we must never lower the bar because we have lowered the bar in the three games we conceded six goals.
20:18Pisa, Cremonese and Parma.
20:23When we don't have the ball, we need to make sure that we defend as a team.
20:28So when I see situations like that, Lafa Liao on Sunday, when he was giving his heart and soul to help out his teammates defensively,
20:35that means that in that area, we are on the right track.
20:39But that doesn't mean that we've sorted absolutely everything out because we're only 12 matchdays in.
20:45And in order to get back into the Champions League, we have 25 points.
20:50We're still missing a minimum 51 because in terms of how high the other teams are going,
20:58it could be a higher tally to get Champions League football,
21:01just as the tally you need to win the Scudetto could be lower
21:06because if the Champions League rate is higher than the Scudetto target might be lower.
21:13Davide Bartesaki is playing a lot better in the last few weeks.
21:16Where do you think he can improve going forward?
21:17In terms of experience of playing matches, and he needs to be a little bit more daring and enterprising
21:24because he's got some really obvious attributes that he can only improve.
21:30Where you go, Carlo?
21:32Hi, Max.
21:33Two things.
21:33You didn't really answer the question from my colleague about Loftus-Cheek or Nkunku.
21:43Maybe a bit more Loftus because you like to have the alternatives.
21:48Where are you at with regards to that thought process?
21:50I don't even know myself, to be honest, because on Thursday I'm underprepared
21:55because for the first time in 20 years of a career I'm doing a press conference on matchday minors too.
22:02I've come away from the training ground so I don't know how they are.
22:05Training session is tomorrow afternoon and then we've got Saturday morning session.
22:09So we need to be a little bit patient on that score.
22:13People talk about Milan being pragmatic, clinical, practical.
22:25No one is willing to say they all just sit back and then hit on the counter.
22:30What sort of adjective would you use?
22:32Do you like these adjectives?
22:34Are you offended by that?
22:35I want to understand that because I'm not hugely a fan of terms of pragmatism and being clinical.
22:43I prefer spectacular.
22:45What adjective would you use at this stage of the season for your Milan side?
22:49A team that wants to get results
22:53and that understands that when they have the ball they need to try and score a goal
22:58and we've had a lot of opportunities, clear-cut opportunities
23:02because inside the penalty area we've had so many chances.
23:06You only see against Napoli, against Roma.
23:09We had lots of opportunities inside the area to score goals.
23:12The same against Inter two or three times we could have attacked the goal better.
23:16We needed to improve the quality of our crosses
23:18because three or four times we went out wide
23:21and we overhit or underhit our crosses.
23:24But one thing we mustn't lose sight of is when we don't have the ball
23:31there's nothing shameful about defending.
23:38And the defenders need to actually relish defending
23:42to make sure that the opposition don't get the better of them.
23:48So you need to really relish those 50-50 challenges against the opposition
23:51and the players are improving on that score.
23:55Thank you very much everyone.